Joseph Marchand was a French Catholic priest and missionary belonging to the Paris Foreign Missions Society. Born in Passavant in 1803, he traveled to Asia at age 25 to pursue evangelization. During his time in Vietnam, he became involved in the Lê Văn Khôi revolt, an uprising aimed at replacing Emperor Minh Mạng with a Catholic ruler. Following his arrest for ties to this rebellion, he was executed in Huế in 1835, where he died a martyr.
Life and death
After joining the mission to serve in Asia, Marchand participated in a two-year uprising centered in the Saigon Citadel. He supported the goal of installing a Catholic emperor through the efforts of the rebels. His involvement led to his capture by imperial forces. He was executed in 1835 through a method of torture involving the removal of flesh from his bones.
Veneration
Recognized for his bravery, Marchand was canonized as a saint by Pope John Paul II in 1988. He is honored within the Catholic Church, with his feast day observed on 30 November. Additionally, he shares a feast day with the Vietnamese Martyrs on 24 November.